Hdos, 297 



Demonstration. These numbers are half of the corresponding 

 numbers m the column [C]. The expression for them, is there- 



fore -^-\-z-\-l, which is composed of the two squares ^ and 



z^ 



Art. XII. — Halos.' — 1. Solar. 



Some account of an Atmospheric Phenomenon, seen a feiv years 

 since, in the County of Otsego. [From a paper read before the 

 Albany Lyceum.)* 



Communicated by S. DeWitt Bloodgood, Esq. 



On the morning of the 7th of February, 1823, a very briUiant 

 parhelion, or halo, round the sun, with anthelia, or mock suns, in the 

 circumference of the circle, was observed by many persons in the 

 county of Otsego. The writer, in company with some gentlemen 

 of this city, (Albany) was travelling in the town of Decatur, on the 

 road to Cherry Valley, when, at about 8 o'clock in the morning of 

 that day, the phenomenon alluded to, was distinctly visible on the 

 right hand side of the road. A large and brilliant circle surrounded 

 the sun, and at the extremities of the horizontal diameter were two 

 mock suns, very bright, with conical tails, opposite the true sun in 

 the center. The day was cold and stormy, and the air was filled 

 with dry and shining particles of snow which apparently hung over 

 the brow of the hill, upon which the road ran. The sun had gained 

 20 degrees of altitude. The wind was due West, and the halo was 

 very large. It is impossible at this time to ascertain its size, but it 

 appeared to be of great magnitude, and very near the spectator. It 

 lasted about ten minutes, and then vanished. The weather for the 

 two or three following days was cold and stormy. 



The writer of the above statement regards the explanations hither- 

 to given of such phenomena, as not altogether satisfactory, or rather, 

 that of some of them no real explanation has been given. Water 



* The explanatory remarks are abridged from n maniisciipt communication to the 

 Editor. 



